The number of new monogenic markers found in Finland that are unknown or very rare in other European populations is increasing almost every year. In addition, a large number of rare recessive diseases similarly typical for the Finns have been found during the last two decades. All these rare genes have probably been accumulated by chance among the numerically limited early settlers during the slow immigration to Finland. The distribution of the more common, polymorphic markers among Finns however reflects rather strong eastern influence judging from the resemblance to Estonians and Siberian populations.